Possessive adjectives in Spanish are used to indicate ownership or possession of nouns. They come in two forms: short (or unstressed) and long (or stressed). Understanding their usage is crucial for effective communication in Spanish.
Short Form Possessive Adjectives
Short form possessive adjectives are more commonly used in everyday speech and writing. They precede the noun they modify.
Examples:
- Mi casa (My house)
- Tu libro (Your book)
- Su coche (His/Her/Your (formal) car)
- Nuestro perro (Our dog)
- Vuestro jardín (Your (plural) garden)
- Sus zapatos (Their shoes)
Usage in sentences:
- “Mi hermana es médica.” (My sister is a doctor.)
- “¿Dónde está tu teléfono?” (Where is your phone?)
- “Nuestros padres viven en Madrid.” (Our parents live in Madrid.)
Long Form Possessive Adjectives
Long form possessive adjectives are used for emphasis or clarity. They follow the noun they modify and require the use of a definite article (el, la, los, las) before the noun.
Examples:
- El libro mío (MY book / The book of mine)
- La casa tuya (YOUR house / The house of yours)
- El coche suyo (HIS/HER car / The car of his/hers)
- Los perros nuestros (OUR dogs / The dogs of ours)
- El jardín vuestro (YOUR (plural) garden / The garden of yours)
- Las bicicletas suyas (THEIR bicycles / The bicycles of theirs)
Usage in sentences:
- “El gato mío es más grande que el tuyo.” (MY cat is bigger than yours.)
- “La idea suya fue brillante.” (HIS/HER idea was brilliant.)
- “Los libros nuestros están en la biblioteca.” (OUR books are in the library.)
Key Points to Remember
- Agreement: Possessive adjectives must agree in number with the noun they modify. For example:
- “Mi perro” (singular) vs. “Mis perros” (plural)
- “Nuestra casa” (singular) vs. “Nuestras casas” (plural)
- Gender: Some possessive adjectives change form based on the gender of the noun:
- “Nuestro hijo” (masculine) vs. “Nuestra hija” (feminine)
- “Vuestro coche” (masculine) vs. “Vuestra moto” (feminine)
- Formal vs. Informal: “Su” and “Suyo/a” can mean “his,” “her,” “its,” “their,” or formal “your.” Context usually clarifies the meaning.
- Usage with body parts: Spanish often uses the definite article instead of a possessive adjective with body parts:
- “Me duele la cabeza” (My head hurts) instead of “Me duele mi cabeza”
- Possessive pronouns: These are similar to long form possessive adjectives but stand alone:
- “Este libro es mío.” (This book is mine.)
- “¿De quién es este coche? Es suyo.” (Whose car is this? It’s his/hers/yours (formal).)
By mastering these rules and practicing with various examples, learners can effectively use possessive adjectives in Spanish to indicate ownership and enhance their overall communication skills. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)